Overtime games have become a habit lately for the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team and as far as habits go, it’s one the Tigers would like to break.

Albert Lea (3-4) lost its third overtime game of the season Tuesday in a 3-2 loss to ninth-ranked Mankato West at the City Arena, despite holding two leads in the game.

Katy Kvasnicka scored her second goal of the game 32 seconds into overtime as she rallied the Scarlets (7-3) to victory.

“She’s a quick player,” said Tigers head coach Brian Blatti said. “She’s got a good shot. She knows how to find the holes.”

Another overtime loss was frustrating to see but Blatti realizes there’s a lot of games left in the season.

“It’s promising how we’re able to take some of these teams to overtime,” Blatti said. “There’s still a lot of season yet.”

Still a win over a state-ranked team would have gone a long way for Albert Lea, but instead the Tigers were left to wonder how another game got away.

Albert Lea went up 1-0 in the second period when Lauren Klick scored on the power play at 14:53, but West responded just 44 seconds later when Kvasnicka scored a power-play goal in front of the Albert Lea goal.

In the third period the Tigers grabbed their second lead of the game when Tasha Moyer skated through the Scarlet zone and fired a shot through the legs of West goaltender Therese Couglan at 6:49 for a 2-1 lead.

But as has happened in four games of Albert Lea’s seven games the Tigers gave up the lead late. At 9:02 Vanessa Lloyd scored on an assist from Kvasnicka to tie the game.

It was an up-and-down game throughout the evening, but the Scarlets outshot Albert Lea 34 to 23 with seventh-grader Sydney Conley making 31 saves in net for the Tigers.

“She had a very strong night in goal, saved us many times,” Blatti said. “Every game she is getting more and more confident and more mature, responding to the pressure. She’s growing as a goaltender, which is good to see especially for a seventh-grader.”

The Tigers play Winona Thursday in Winona.

Mankato West 3, Albert Lea 2, OT

Mankato West 0 1 1 1 — 3

Albert Lea 0 1 1 0 — 2

First Period—No scoring. Penalties—Sam Stanley, Alb (interference), 5:17; Lauren Draayer, Alb (tripping), 11:19; Sophie Jepson, Alb (hooking), 11:45.

Second Period—1, Albert Lea, Lauren Klick (Madi Passingham), 14:53 (pp.). 2, Mankato West, Katy Kvasnicka (unassisted), 15:37 (pp.). Penalties—Draayer, Alb (interference), 6:39; Amber Oachs, Man (high sticking), 10:09; Draayer, Alb (hooking), 11:00; Kvasnicka, Man (interference), 14:35; Jepson, Alb (slashing), 15:13.

Third Period—3, Albert Lea, Tasha Moyer (Klick), 6:45. 4, Mankato West, Vanessa Lloyd (Kvasnicka, Amanda Probach), 9:02. Penalties—Anna Anderson, Alb (tripping), 3:10; Kaley Waldemar, Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:16.

Overtime—5, Mankato West, Kvasnicka (unassisted), :52.

Shots on Goal—Mankato West 12-11-10-1—34. Albert Lea 11-7-5-0—23.

Power-play opportunities—Mankato West 1 of 7; Albert Lea 1 of 3.

Goalies—Mankato West, Therese Coughlan (23 shots-21 saves); Albert Lea, Sydney Conley (34-31).